Life insurance for people with high cholesterol
The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for . This content is powered by HomeInsurance.com (NPN: 8781838). For more information, please see our .
If you’re shopping for life insurance, you may need to undergo a medical exam before being offered a policy. These exams help an insurance company determine how risky you are to insure based on your health, but medical issues can affect your insurance offer. High cholesterol is a common occurrence in the U.S., with nearly 94 million American adults suffering from the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Compare life insurance providers quickly and easily
See which provider is right for you.
Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component.
- Coverage for life
- Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid
- 3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component
Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time.
- Fixed premium over term
- No savings benefits
- Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back
This advertising widget is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. HomeInsurance.com LLC services are only available in states where it is licensed and insurance coverage through HomeInsurance.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
If you have high cholesterol, you may be wondering how your diagnosis might affect your life insurance premium. Like auto insurance and homeowners insurance, insurance companies consider risk when setting your rates. Life insurance companies use medical exams to help determine risk. Understanding how your life insurance quoting process might play out if you have high cholesterol could help better prepare you for buying a policy.
Life insurance and high cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat in the bloodstream. Cholesterol comes in a few different forms: LDL cholesterol, which is carried by low-density lipoprotein and is considered the bad cholesterol, and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, which is considered good cholesterol. Triglycerides, another form of blood fat, are also often measured with cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is when you have high amounts of so-called bad cholesterol in your blood.
If your total cholesterol level is between 200-339 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), you are considered a borderline risk. A total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL means you have high cholesterol. High cholesterol can limit your blood flow, which increases your risks of having a heart attack or stroke. There are no symptoms associated with high cholesterol itself, although there are symptoms of diseases related to high cholesterol. The only way to determine if you have high cholesterol is through a blood test. When you apply for insurance, your life insurance company will typically require a medical examination. Cholesterol is one factor that insurance companies will evaluate.
How will high cholesterol impact my premiums?
Even the best life insurance companies evaluate the potential risk of insuring you when determining your premium. If you are considered a high risk, then your life insurance premium will probably be higher than lower-risk individuals. While a medical examination is one part of the underwriting process, life insurance companies will also look at other factors such as your age, medical history and even your hobbies.
Because high cholesterol can put you at risk for heart attacks and strokes, two of the leading causes of death in the U.S., insurance companies consider it a risk factor. If your cholesterol is particularly high, not well controlled with medication or if you have other health issues, you might even be denied coverage.
Can I change my premiums?
If you are able to lower your cholesterol levels, you may be able to request for your life insurance company to do another medical exam. If the results of the exam are favorable, you might see a decrease in your premium. You could also apply for a new life insurance policy, undergo a new medical exam and then replace your existing policy with the newer, lower-premium policy.
How to prepare for life insurance
There are a number of steps you can take to prepare for your life insurance medical exam. If you know you will be obtaining life insurance in the near future, make sure that you plan out a day for your medical exam so that you can prepare for it ahead of time. A few steps you can take before your exam are to eat healthy meals, drink a lot of water, avoid alcohol for a few days and exercise. You may be asked to fast for 10 to 12 hours before your exam, so your fasting blood levels can be checked. During the medical exam, the examiner will take a blood sample and check your blood pressure and pulse, as well as other health metrics like your height, weight and blood oxygen level.
If you have high cholesterol and need life insurance quickly, you can expect to pay a higher premium than if your cholesterol levels are lower. If you have time to lower your cholesterol levels before buying a policy, you might see a lower rate.
Will my life insurance application be declined?
Potentially. Every life insurance company has its own rating method, and if your cholesterol is very high, uncontrolled by medication or if you have other health issues in conjunction with your high cholesterol, your coverage might be denied.
If your application is declined and you don’t have time to lower your cholesterol before buying a policy, you may want to consider guaranteed issue life insurance, which is a type of whole life insurance. Guaranteed issue life insurance does not require a medical exam or health check and is, as the name suggests, guaranteed regardless of your health situation. However, these types of policies tend to have relatively low coverage limits and high premiums.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone get a guaranteed issue life insurance policy?
If you’ve applied for and been declined coverage by a few different carriers, guaranteed life insurance may be a good option. Just keep in mind that this type of policy tends to be more expensive than life insurance policies that require medical exams, so you should expect a higher premium.
Is whole or term life insurance better for people with high cholesterol?
It depends on your needs and goals. While whole life insurance covers you for the entirety of your life (as long as you pay the premiums), term life insurance only covers you for a set period of time, usually 10 to 30 years. Both policies can be good options, depending on what you need. Whole life insurance can help ensure that your family has financial support after you pass away and comes with some living benefits that you can use while you are alive. If you are buying coverage to protect your family from outstanding debts, term insurance might be a good choice, since you are theoretically working to pay off your debts and might not need the coverage long term.
How much life insurance do I need?
The amount of coverage you buy will depend on your unique circumstances. You may only want enough coverage to pay for funeral expenses or to cover an outstanding debt, like a mortgage. Or you might want to provide your family or loved ones with money to live on to replace your income. You might even want a sum large enough to leave a financial gift to a spouse, your children or an organization. Using a life insurance calculator or working with an agent could help you choose an appropriate amount of coverage.
Related Articles
